Improvement in machines for removing snow and ice from roadways of streets



c. a. wATER'BuRY;

Mach i nes for Bemoviln S now rind Ice f'rol R adways o Streets.

Patented Nov. 11,1873.

OO@ o o ooeoGQO @OOO UNITED STATES PATENT Orricr..

cHARLEs c.. wATE'RRURY, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT lN MACHINES FOR REMOVING SNOW AND ICE FROM RADWYS 0FSTREETS.

Specification formin g part of Letters Patent No. 144,458, datedNovember 11, 1873; i application filed september 20, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES G. WATER- BURY, of the city, county, andState of New York, have invented a new and Improved Machine for RemovingSnow and Ice om Streets, Sto., of which the following is aspecification:

My invention consists of apparatus in a portable machine adapted to runalong the road way, so contrived that it will sprinkle the surface ofthe roadway with hydrocarbon substances, at the same time convertingsome of the said substances into vapor and burning it in a space above,and causing the ame to impinge upon the surface and burn the portionsprinkled thereon directly in contact with the snow and ice in a mannercalculated to secure great efficiency.

Figure l is partly a plan view and partly a horizontal section of myimproved machine. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of thesaid machine, and Fig. 3 is a detail of the apparatus for mixing oxygenwith the vapor for the support of combustion.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A represents an inclosed chamber in the front portion of a box or caseof any suitable kind mounted on wheels B, so as to be drawn along theroadway; or the wheels may be arranged to run on the rails of a railway,if desired. Into this chamber the hydrocarbon is discharged through aperforated pipe, C, extending across the space from side to side alittle above a convex spreading and heating plate, D, so as to drip uponit in greater or lesser volume, according to the requirements of thecase, the said hydrocarbon substance being supplied to said perforatedpipe by a feed-pipe, E, entering each end, and connecting with thesupply-tanks F, and each pipe being provided with a regulating-cock, G.A little below the spreading-plate D is the bottom plate of the chamberA, which is composed of the concave portion H and the horizontal portionI. The oil not vaporized on plate D and dripping from it falls onto thesides of concave plate H, and that which is not vaporized in said platedrips through perforations J at the bottom and falls upon the ground.The air is forced into a chamber, K, from a pan, L, and through theperforated distributingplates M N O to the nozber A, and is thoroughlyand evenly mixed with Y it, so as to issue in proper combination forcom- -bustion under the plate I, where it burns, so

that the flame impinges directly on the surface, so as to vaporize theoil thereon coming through plate H, and extend the llames along thesurface toward the rear end of the machine in a way calculated to bringthe heat into the most direct contact with the surface to be heated, andthus greatly increase the effectiveness.

It will be observed that there will be no residuum of unvaporizedmaterial left in the vaporizing-chamber to clog it and obstruct theoperation, as it will drip through the plate H and be consumed on thesurface below.

In order to facilitate the lighting of the Iire to begin, I have alittle pan, It, arranged under the bottom H on a pivot, S, with weightedarms, T, to hold it up under and a little below bottom H, to hold theoil rst dripping through said bottom for kindling the fire by a matchintroduced through an aperture, U, in the front of the case, which willhave a damper for regulating the draft while kindling and shutting itoftl afterward. When suiicient heat is obtained on plate H to vaporizethe oil in chamber A, the pan will then be thrown down out of the way ofthe drip from the holes J by throwing up the weighted arms T, afterwhich the drip will fall on the surface to be heated.

-The plate D will be supported on standards, V,

rising up from bottom H, and the latter will be supported on the rib Wat the front end,

and by bolts X at 4the other, so that by taking out said bolts thebottom can be readily taken out for cleaning and repairing, and toafford access to the interior of chamber A, when it may be required. Theheat and flame will be confined on the surface by the sides Y of thecase or box, which will be extended for the purpose, except at the rearend, and a water-jacket will be applied to the walls of chamber A forthe protection of them from the heat.

ly thus sprinkling` the ice and snow to be melted and burning the oildirect-ly on it, the heat is'applied moreV directly and effectively thanit can be in any other known way.

Having thus described niy invention, I cla-iin as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patentl. In a inaehine for removing snow and iee fromthe roadways oi' streets7 the combination of a sprinkling apparatus and`a burner, so that the roadway Ina-y be sprinkled with a liquidhydrocarbon7 to be burned by the iiames of the burner inipinging,` uponthe sprinkled surface, substantially as set forth.

2. A vaporizing hydrocarbon-burner conibined in a machine for melting`snow and ice from roadways, so that the unvaporized portion of the oilmay drip through the bottoni of the yaporiZing-ehainber and osea-pe fromit7 substantially as set forth.

3. The method of removing snow and ice 'from the roadways of streets bya hydrocarfitnesses A. P. TnAYnn,` T. B. Mosnnn.

